Parliament prepares for civil unions vote

The civil partnerships legislation will be debated in State Parliament this week.

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Premier Anna Bligh says she is hopeful civil partnerships legislation will be passed in State Parliament this week.

The Liberal National Party (LNP) is voting against Deputy Premier Andrew Fraser's private member's bill to recognise same-sex unions.

Parliament will rise for 2011 on Thursday and it may also be the last time before the state election, due by March.

Labor MPs will be allowed a conscience vote on Mr Fraser's bill and only a few have indicated they'll vote "no".

Ms Bligh says she hopes most of her Labor colleagues will be in favour of the change.

"I certainly hope we see this bill passed but when you have a conscience vote, people exercise their conscience and frankly, you can never be sure until the hands go up on the day."

Ms Bligh says she will not be certain until the vote is held.

"I think it's a very important blow against discrimination and I hope that we see the majority of members strike that discrimination down," she said.

The bill will fail if seven Labor MPs vote against it on Wednesday night.

'Slim margin'

Mr Fraser predicts there sill be a slim margin in this week's vote on his bill.

Three Labor MPs have indicated they will vote no, while others are still making up their minds.

Mr Fraser acknowledges the controversial proposal will change some votes at the next election.

"This is something that people will vote against me for and I understand that, but it doesn't make it any less the right thing to do," he said.

"I've decided to stand for public office to do things that are important, not just to be part of the wallpaper."

State Cabinet is meeting in Brisbane today ahead of the last sitting of Parliament for the year.

Arriving for Cabinet today, ministers Jan Jarratt and Annastacia Palaszczuk declared their support for the bill.

Fellow Minister Stirling Hinchliffe also says he will vote yes.

"I think it's a matter where there is clearly a lot of different diversity of opinion in the community and I don't think it's a matter that the Parliament should be dictating to people about," he said.

Energy Minister Stephen Robertson says he will support the bill too.

"I'm hopeful that this will get up - I think it will be a fine way to end this parliamentary year," he said.

Election speculation

However, ministers going into Cabinet today remain tight-lipped about the date of the state election.

Ms Jarratt and Ms Palaszczuk were making no predictions.

"The election is due some time next year so we'll wait and see," Ms Jarratt said.

"There's an election next year and only the Premier knows the date of that election," Ms Palaszczuk said.

If the election is not called, the House will return in mid-February, but Mr Robertson is not keen to come back then.

"As much as I love sitting in Parliament, I don't relish the thought of coming back and sitting on my 50th birthday on the 14 of February. but that's a matter of self-interest," he said.